Kyle Pitts could be Arizona Cardinals first-round target

When the 2021 NFL Draft gets underway in April, the front office of the Arizona Cardinals will have a bevy of needs to fill. Armed with the 16th-overall selection, general manager Steve Keim will have several attractive options to choose from. There’s one prospect in particular, however, who could help the Cards with a situation that’s been haunting the organization for years.

The University of Florida’s Kyle Pitts is without a question the best tight end that will be entering the league this year. It’s been quite a while since Arizona had a difference-making player at that position. Could Keim surprise the masses, and elect to address what has become a long-standing problem for the organization?

Adding the ultra-talented Pitts to head coach Kliff Kingsbury‘s “Air Raid” scoring attack is an exciting proposition. The 6’6, 246 pounder put up eye-popping numbers this past fall for the Gators, and is now preparing to wreak havoc at the professional level.

In just eight games for Florida in 2020, Pitts tallied 43 receptions for 770 yards and a whopping 12 touchdowns. The junior pass-catcher was voted a Unanimous All-American for his sensational performance. Pitts also received the John Mackey Award, an honor that is given to the nation’s top tight end at the conclusion of each season.

A year before, during his sophomore campaign, Pitts hauled in 54 passes for 649 yards and five scores. The Philadelphia native was named First Team All-SEC for his efforts in 2019.

The leading tight end for the Cardinals in ’20 was 25-year old veteran Dan Arnold. The 6’6, 220 pounder was credited with 31 receptions, 438 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Arnold was a solid contributor, but one would have to believe that the electrifying Pitts would be a huge upgrade.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that Pitts will still be on the board when the Cards make their selection in the opening round on April 29th. The 20-year old is a unique talent that will likely be coveted by a number of teams. Arizona should certainly be one of them.